THE NATIONALS FIGHT LABOR’S FRESH FOOD TAX IN SENATE INQUIRY

Labor’s fresh food tax and the damage it will cause, by driving up the cost-of-living and making groceries more expensive, will be investigated by a Senate committee today.

Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox said the fresh food tax, which is due to be implemented on July 1, is as an attack on families and farmers in Dawson.

Mr Willcox said the biosecurity protection levy will force farmers to pay for the biosecurity risks of international importers.

“This Senate inquiry and its outcome is crucial because this new tax will impact almost every single family and approximately 1,500 farmers and farm managers in our electorate of Dawson,” Mr Willcox said.

“The new tax makes absolutely no sense. It will hurt families in our electorate, and right across Australia at a time they can least afford it and farmers who are already under pressure.

“Farmers will be forced to pass on costs, meaning families will feel more pain at the grocery checkout. In what parallel universe would a government charge its own farmers to pay for the risks their competitors are creating?”

Mr Willcox said every family and farmer has the right to feel angry that the fresh food tax has already been rammed through by Labor in the House of Representatives.

“The Nationals will continue to fight this senseless new tax. We will fight for families, and we will fight for farmers, especially when it comes to taxes that impact food prices.”